Although paper files are the standard fare for legislative research, the Legislature will sometimes tape committee and floor deliberations.  Sporadic videotaping began in the Assembly in 1990 and in the Senate in 1992.  Before that, both houses used audio tapes on an equally sporadic basis.  Unfortunately, most of these taped sessions are never transcribed, leaving the audio or VHS tape as the only record of the important discussions and debate.  One of the many services LRI offers is a search for any tapes that might exist in connection with the legislation of interest.  If any video tapes are found, they can be sent to you in either VHS or DVD format.  Audio tapes can be converted to CD.

STANDARD FEES

• Search for tapes:

  $75 per hour

• Cost of tapes:

  $20 per VHS tape from State Archives

  $10 per VHS tape from Assembly TV

  $5 per VHS tape from Senate TV

  $15 per Cassette tape from State Archives

• FedEx Overnight Shipping

OPTIONAL EXTRAS

• Video or Audio Tape Review ($75/hr)

Call us for information regarding the many advantages of having LRI review the tapes for you: (800) 530-7613.

• VHS to DVD Conversion ($75/hr + $25 per DVD)

Receive a DVD instead of a VHS tape.  The advantages are significant.  You can play the DVD on your computer, without having to roll in a cart with a TV and VHS player into your office and crawl around on the floor looking for an unused wall socket.  A menu option allows you to skip directly to the scene of interest, and any discussion that does not deal with the bill of interest is deleted from the DVD, so you will not even have to waste time fast-forwarding through hours of tape that do not apply to you.  And if you do chose to use the fast-forward feature, it can be really, really fast.

Speaking of scene selection, LRI offers two different options for scene selection.  The same hourly rate of $75/hr applies to both, however, the first option takes significantly less time to complete than the second, making it far less expensive.

10 minute intervals.  Each hearing and floor session will be broken down into ten minute intervals.  For example, if the deliberation lasts 50 minutes, the discussion is broken down into five separate segments.

Per speaker.  Each hearing and floor session will be broken down per speaker, so that you can skip directly to the testimony that you are most interested in. 

• Audio Cassette to CD Conversion ($75/hr + $10 per CD)

Receive a CD instead of a cassette tape.

If you have any questions regarding untranscribed tape research, please contact Lisa Hampton at (800) 530-7613 or intent@lrihistory.com.